John Alexander Kennedy
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John Alexander Kennedy (August 9, 1803 – June 20, 1873) was the superintendent of police for New York City.
[edit] Biography
He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 9, 1803. His father was a native of Ireland, and was a teacher in Baltimore. John moved to New York City and worked with his brother. In 1849 he was appointed a commissioner of emigration, and in 1854 he was elected a member of the common council. He was appointed superintendent of Castle Garden, and worked to protect emigrants against swindlers. In 1860 he became superintendent of the New York City Police Commissioner. During the New York Draft Riots he was severely beaten by a mob, while protecting the office of the provost-marshal at Third avenue and Forty-sixth street, on the morning of 14 July 1863. When he returned to duty he was appointed provost-marshal of New York City, as well as superintendent of police, and continued to serve in this double capacity during the American Civil War. He made many enemies through his efforts to enforce the metropolitan excise law. He resigned on 11 April 1870, he then served as president of a street-railroad company for about two years, and then held the office of collector of assessments till his death in New York City on June 20, 1873.
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[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography.
